The Story of Ugrasena and Padmavati

Verse 1 (padma.2.48.1)

ब्राह्मण्युवाच- माथुरे विषये रम्ये मथुरायां नृपोत्तमः । उग्रसेनेति विख्यातो यादवः परवीरहा

brāhmaṇyuvāca- māthure viṣaye ramye mathurāyāṁ nṛpottamaḥ ugraseneti vikhyāto yādavaḥ paravīrahā

The brahmin-wife said: In the lovely land of Mathura, in the city of Mathura, there was a most excellent king, renowned as Ugrasena, a Yadava, slayer of enemy heroes.

Verse 2 (padma.2.48.2)

सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञो वेदज्ञः श्रुतवान्बली । दाता भोक्ता गुणग्राही सद्गुणान्वेत्ति भूपतिः

sarvadharmārthatattvajño vedajñaḥ śrutavānbalī dātā bhoktā guṇagrāhī sadguṇānvetti bhūpatiḥ

He was a knower of the truths of dharma and artha, learned in the Vedas, of great strength; generous, gracious in enjoyment, appreciative of virtue, and a ruler who understood true qualities.

Verse 3 (padma.2.48.3)

राज्यं चकार मेधावी प्रजा धर्मेण पालयेत् । एवं स च महातेजा उग्रसेनः प्रतापवान्

rājyaṁ cakāra medhāvī prajā dharmeṇa pālayet evaṁ sa ca mahātejā ugrasenaḥ pratāpavān

That wise king ruled his kingdom and protected his people through dharma; thus was that greatly resplendent, mighty Ugrasena.

Verse 4 (padma.2.48.4)

वैदर्भे विषये पुण्ये सत्यकेतुः प्रतापवान् । तस्य कन्या महाभागा पद्माक्षी कमलानना

vaidarbhe viṣaye puṇye satyaketuḥ pratāpavān tasya kanyā mahābhāgā padmākṣī kamalānanā

In the sacred land of Vidarbha there was the mighty king Satyaketu; his daughter was a blessed maiden, lotus-eyed and lotus-faced.

Verse 5 (padma.2.48.5)

नाम्ना पद्मावती नाम सत्यधर्मपरायणा । सा तु स्त्रीणां गुणैर्युक्ता द्वितीयेव समुद्रजा

nāmnā padmāvatī nāma satyadharmaparāyaṇā sā tu strīṇāṁ guṇairyuktā dvitīyeva samudrajā

Her name was Padmavati, devoted wholly to truth and dharma; endowed with every womanly virtue, she was like a second Lakshmi, born of the ocean.

Verse 6 (padma.2.48.6)

वैदर्भी शुशुभे राजन्स्वगुणैः सत्यकारणैः । माथुर उग्रसेनस्तु उपयेमे सुलोचनाम्

vaidarbhī śuśubhe rājansvaguṇaiḥ satyakāraṇaiḥ māthura ugrasenastu upayeme sulocanām

O king, that princess of Vidarbha shone with her own true virtues; and Ugrasena of Mathura took that fair-eyed one in marriage.

Verse 7 (padma.2.48.7)

तया सह महाभाग सुखं रेमे प्रतापवान् । अतिप्रीतो गुणैस्तस्यास्तया सह सुखीभवेत्

tayā saha mahābhāga sukhaṁ reme pratāpavān atiprīto guṇaistasyāstayā saha sukhībhavet

With her, O blessed one, that mighty king lived in happiness; greatly delighted by her virtues, he was ever joyful in her company.

Verse 8 (padma.2.48.8)

तस्याः स्नेहेन प्रीत्या च संमुग्धो माथुरेश्वरः । पद्मावती महाभागा तस्य प्राणप्रियाभवत्

tasyāḥ snehena prītyā ca saṁmugdho māthureśvaraḥ padmāvatī mahābhāgā tasya prāṇapriyābhavat

The lord of Mathura was utterly captivated by her love and affection; and the blessed Padmavati became dear to him as his very life.

Verse 9 (padma.2.48.9)

तया विना न बुभुजे तया सह प्रक्रीडयेत् । तया विना न सेवेत परमं सुखमेव सः

tayā vinā na bubhuje tayā saha prakrīḍayet tayā vinā na seveta paramaṁ sukhameva saḥ

He would not eat without her; he would sport only together with her; without her he would not partake of the highest happiness.

Verse 10 (padma.2.48.10)

एवं प्रीतिकरौ जातौ परस्परमनुत्तमौ । स्नेहवंतौ द्विजश्रेष्ठ सुखसंप्रीतिदायकौ

evaṁ prītikarau jātau parasparamanuttamau snehavaṁtau dvijaśreṣṭha sukhasaṁprītidāyakau

Thus the two of them became a pair of unsurpassed mutual affection, O foremost of brahmins, full of love, bestowing joy and delight on each other.

Verse 11 (padma.2.48.11)

सत्यकेतुश्च राजेंद्रः सस्मार स पद्मावतीम् । स्वसुतां तां महाभागो माता तस्याः सुदुःखिता

satyaketuśca rājeṁdraḥ sasmāra sa padmāvatīm svasutāṁ tāṁ mahābhāgo mātā tasyāḥ suduḥkhitā

King Satyaketu began to remember his own daughter Padmavati, that blessed one; and her mother too grew deeply sorrowful.

Verse 12 (padma.2.48.12)

स दूतान्प्रेषयामास वैदर्भो मथुरां प्रति । उग्रसेनं नृवीरेंद्रं सादरेण द्विजोत्तम

sa dūtānpreṣayāmāsa vaidarbho mathurāṁ prati ugrasenaṁ nṛvīreṁdraṁ sādareṇa dvijottama

O foremost of brahmins, the king of Vidarbha sent envoys to Mathura, respectfully, to Ugrasena, foremost of heroic kings.

Verse 13 (padma.2.48.13)

उग्रसेनं महाराजं स दूतो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । विदर्भाधिपतिर्वीरो भक्त्या स्नेहेन नंदयन्

ugrasenaṁ mahārājaṁ sa dūto vākyamabravīt vidarbhādhipatirvīro bhaktyā snehena naṁdayan

That envoy spoke thus to King Ugrasena, with devotion, gladdening him with the affection of the valiant lord of Vidarbha —

Verse 14 (padma.2.48.14)

आत्मनः कुशलं ब्रूते भवतां परिपृच्छति । सत्यकेतुर्महाराज त्वामेवं परिपृष्टवान्

ātmanaḥ kuśalaṁ brūte bhavatāṁ paripṛcchati satyaketurmahārāja tvāmevaṁ paripṛṣṭavān

'He conveys his own well-being, and inquires after yours. O great king, Satyaketu has asked after you thus —'

Verse 15 (padma.2.48.15)

दर्शनाय प्रेषयस्व सुतां पद्मावतीं मम । यदि त्वं मन्यसे नाथ प्रीतिस्नेहं हितस्य च

darśanāya preṣayasva sutāṁ padmāvatīṁ mama yadi tvaṁ manyase nātha prītisnehaṁ hitasya ca

'—"Send my daughter Padmavati for a visit, if, my lord, you value affection, love, and her welfare."'

Verse 16 (padma.2.48.16)

प्रेषयस्व महाभागां प्रियां प्रीतिकरां तव । औत्कण्ठ्येन महाराज स सोत्कंठेन वर्तते

preṣayasva mahābhāgāṁ priyāṁ prītikarāṁ tava autkaṇṭhyena mahārāja sa sotkaṁṭhena vartate

'"Send that blessed one, your beloved, your joy — for, O great king, he waits there filled with longing."'

Verse 17 (padma.2.48.17)

समाकर्ण्य ततो वाक्यमुग्रसेनो नृपोत्तमः । प्रीत्या स्नेहेन तस्यापि सत्यकेतोर्महात्मनः

samākarṇya tato vākyamugraseno nṛpottamaḥ prītyā snehena tasyāpi satyaketormahātmanaḥ

Hearing these words, Ugrasena, that foremost of kings, moved by love and affection for that great-souled Satyaketu —

Verse 18 (padma.2.48.18)

दाक्षिण्येन च विप्रेंद्र प्रेषयामास भूपतिः । पद्मावतीं प्रियां भार्यामुग्रसेनः प्रतापवान्

dākṣiṇyena ca vipreṁdra preṣayāmāsa bhūpatiḥ padmāvatīṁ priyāṁ bhāryāmugrasenaḥ pratāpavān

—O foremost of brahmins, out of courtesy, that mighty ruler Ugrasena sent his beloved wife Padmavati.

Verse 19 (padma.2.48.19)

प्रेषितानेन राजेंद्र गता पद्मावती स्वकम् । पूर्वं गृहं सती सा तु महाहर्षेण संकुला

preṣitānena rājeṁdra gatā padmāvatī svakam pūrvaṁ gṛhaṁ satī sā tu mahāharṣeṇa saṁkulā

O foremost of kings, thus sent forth, that virtuous Padmavati went to her own former home, filled with great joy.

Verse 20 (padma.2.48.20)

पितृपूर्वं कुटुंबं तु ददृशे चारुमंगला । पितुः पादौ ननामाथ शिरसा सत्यतत्परा

pitṛpūrvaṁ kuṭuṁbaṁ tu dadṛśe cārumaṁgalā pituḥ pādau nanāmātha śirasā satyatatparā

That lovely, auspicious one beheld her father's household of old; and, devoted to truth, she bowed her head at her father's feet.

Verse 21 (padma.2.48.21)

आगतायां महाराजा पद्मावत्यां द्विजोत्तम । हर्षेण महताविष्टो विदर्भाधिपतिर्नृपः

āgatāyāṁ mahārājā padmāvatyāṁ dvijottama harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo vidarbhādhipatirnṛpaḥ

O foremost of brahmins, when Padmavati had arrived, the great king, the lord of Vidarbha, was overcome with immense joy.

Verse 22 (padma.2.48.22)

वर्द्धिता दानमानैश्च वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः । पद्मावती सुखेनापि पितुर्गेहे प्रवर्तते

varddhitā dānamānaiśca vastrālaṁkārabhūṣaṇaiḥ padmāvatī sukhenāpi piturgehe pravartate

She was honored with gifts and marks of esteem, with garments, ornaments and jewels; and Padmavati dwelt happily in her father's house.

Verse 23 (padma.2.48.23)

सखीभिः सहिता सा तु निःशंका परिवर्तते । रमते सा तदा तत्र यथापूर्वं तथैव च

sakhībhiḥ sahitā sā tu niḥśaṁkā parivartate ramate sā tadā tatra yathāpūrvaṁ tathaiva ca

With her friends around her, she moved about without any restraint; and she took delight there just as she had before her marriage.

Verse 24 (padma.2.48.24)

गृहे वने तडागेषु प्रासादे च तथैव सा । पुनर्बालेव भूता सा निर्लज्जा संप्रवर्तते

gṛhe vane taḍāgeṣu prāsāde ca tathaiva sā punarbāleva bhūtā sā nirlajjā saṁpravartate

In the house, in the gardens, at the ponds, and in the palace likewise, she behaved once more like a carefree, unrestrained child.

Verse 25 (padma.2.48.25)

निःशंका वर्तते विप्र सखीभिः सह सर्वदा । पतिव्रता महाभागा हर्षेण महतान्विता

niḥśaṁkā vartate vipra sakhībhiḥ saha sarvadā pativratā mahābhāgā harṣeṇa mahatānvitā

O brahmin, she remained ever fearless there with her friends, that devoted, blessed wife, filled with great joy.

Verse 26 (padma.2.48.26)

सुखं तु पितृगेहस्य दुर्लभं श्वशुरे गृहे । एवं ज्ञात्वा तदा रेमे कदा ईदृग्भविष्यति

sukhaṁ tu pitṛgehasya durlabhaṁ śvaśure gṛhe evaṁ jñātvā tadā reme kadā īdṛgbhaviṣyati

'The happiness of a father's house is hard to find in a husband's home' — knowing this, she reveled there, thinking: 'When shall such days come again?'

Verse 27 (padma.2.48.27)

अनेन मोहभावेन क्रीडालुब्धा वरानना । सखीभिः सहिता नित्यं वनेषूपवने तदा

anena mohabhāvena krīḍālubdhā varānanā sakhībhiḥ sahitā nityaṁ vaneṣūpavane tadā

With this very delusion, that fair-faced one, given over to play, remained ever with her friends in the groves and gardens.